Benefits of Lemongrass Tea

Study on CANCER

University researchers in Middle East have discovered that citral in lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Citral is the component that gives the lemony aroma and taste in lemongrass.

The study found that citral causes cancer cells to "commit suicide”: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death. A drink with as little as one gram of lemongrass contains enough citral to prompt the cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube. Some doctors who are familiar with the benefits of lemongrass are recommending lemongrass to their cancer patients. Cancer patients should drink 5 cups to 10 cups every day to build up the immune system after chemotherapy treatment.

The Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is to determine the stage that the immune system of the patient after response to chemotherapy. ANC is the actual number of white blood cells that a patient has to fight an infection. A normal ANC is greater than 2,500. A safe ANC is greater than 1,000. After chemotherapy, BMT, and radiation, a patient's ANC may drop low as 0. When the ANC drops below 500, it is important that patient's remain away from crowds and people who have colds and flu. This is to protect the patient from being exposed to possible infections.

Many cancer patients in Malaysia who took lemongrass herbal drink experienced a faster increase in ANC (3 times faster) and hence lemongrass accelerated the recovery in immune system after chemotherapy treatment. Increment in ANC to normality is 2 to 3 months for cancer patients while lemongrass drinking cancer patients took only 3 weeks based on numerous testimonies from cancer patients.

Gan Khai Chung

Director of Research